"It's been a pleasure flagging up all these different artistes. They deserved a decent send-off. As does TIMJ, so no histrionics from me. RIP will continue until September 25th. I will be back with this feature on "God's Jukebox" at http://www.godsjukebox.com/selections/username/Rest_In_Peace/. Best wishes to all."
Ilja Rudolph Bergh was born in Berlin, Germany, on January 22nd 1927. His father was a singing tutor, and his grandfather was the composer Rudolph Sophus Bergh. He led a colourful, chequered career. His childhood took him from Berlin to Riga to Kiev to Copenhagen, all because his father was from a Jewish family, and because persecutions of these peoples began during the rise of Hitler at that time.
He received his first piano lessons in Kiev between 1935 and 1937, and, during the Second World War, was initially admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Music, but was expelled due to what he perceived as prejudice. However, he was later re-admitted, and earned his degree in 1957. After a time living the bohemian life in Copenhagen, he was briefly employed at the Music Conservatory in Odense, but chose then to continue studying in Munich.
Over the next several years, he stayed and worked around Europe. In the period after 1959, he settled first in Munich and then in Flensburg, where he worked as a music teacher, until 1986, after which he stayed with Elsa Gress in Moen. Between 1983 and 1985 he worked in Turin for the 'Compagnia Sperimentale Drammatica' theatre company, composing the music for several of their performances. Throughout these times, Ilja Bergh regularly gave concerts in Italy, Spain and Germany.
He called his work "Menneskemusik" ("Human Music"), and claimed to have been inspired first and foremost by Franz Liszt, Alexander Scriabin and Olivier Messiaen. He also starred in the radio programme "Eliten i Minefeltet", and in 2011 published his autobiography "En Egocentrikers Eskapader".
6 Comments (since 16 Sep 2015)
rest_in_peace
"It's been a pleasure flagging up all these different artistes. They deserved a decent send-off. As does TIMJ, so no histrionics from me. RIP will continue until September 25th. I will be back with this feature on "God's Jukebox" at http://www.godsjukebox.com/selections/username/Rest_In_Peace/. Best wishes to all."
rest_in_peace
Ilja Rudolph Bergh was born in Berlin, Germany, on January 22nd 1927. His father was a singing tutor, and his grandfather was the composer Rudolph Sophus Bergh. He led a colourful, chequered career. His childhood took him from Berlin to Riga to Kiev to Copenhagen, all because his father was from a Jewish family, and because persecutions of these peoples began during the rise of Hitler at that time.
rest_in_peace
He received his first piano lessons in Kiev between 1935 and 1937, and, during the Second World War, was initially admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Music, but was expelled due to what he perceived as prejudice. However, he was later re-admitted, and earned his degree in 1957. After a time living the bohemian life in Copenhagen, he was briefly employed at the Music Conservatory in Odense, but chose then to continue studying in Munich.
rest_in_peace
Over the next several years, he stayed and worked around Europe. In the period after 1959, he settled first in Munich and then in Flensburg, where he worked as a music teacher, until 1986, after which he stayed with Elsa Gress in Moen. Between 1983 and 1985 he worked in Turin for the 'Compagnia Sperimentale Drammatica' theatre company, composing the music for several of their performances. Throughout these times, Ilja Bergh regularly gave concerts in Italy, Spain and Germany.
rest_in_peace
He called his work "Menneskemusik" ("Human Music"), and claimed to have been inspired first and foremost by Franz Liszt, Alexander Scriabin and Olivier Messiaen. He also starred in the radio programme "Eliten i Minefeltet", and in 2011 published his autobiography "En Egocentrikers Eskapader".
rest_in_peace
Ilja Bergh died on September 5th 2015 at Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark, aged 88. [Translated from: http://www.komponistforeningen.dk/node/29931]